244 Journal New York Entomological Society. t^oL xxiv. 



was originally described by PaykuU (1792). Since that time several 

 systematic papers dealing with this group have been published by 

 various authors among which Gyllenhal, Schultz, Weiss, Bedel, Rye, 

 Perris, and Edwards are the most important. Practically nothing 

 has been published on its life history. Kawall (1867) gives a few 

 notes on the larva of Caiiodes punctigcr Schh. {^= Ceutorhynchus 

 margiiiatiis var. piinctiger Gyll.) occurring in the heads of dandelions. 

 Perris (1876) verifies Kawall's observations and states further that 

 C. marginatus Payk. occurs in the heads of Hypochccris maciilata, a 

 plant belonging to the same group as the dandelion, Taraxacum 

 officinale. 



Distribution. 



This species is common throughout Europe. It has been recorded 

 from England, Germany, France, Italy, Turkey and from several 

 places in northern Africa. In this country, as far as known, it is not 

 widely distributed. It has been taken in New York, Massachusetts 

 and Ohio. The writer has found the species abundant at Ithaca. 

 Dryden and Freeville, N. Y. Other collectors have taken it at Padles- 

 ford, Syracuse, Portage, Batavia, Sonyea, Holcomb, Nunda, and 

 West Point, N. Y. 



Food Plants. 



The larva of C. marginatus feeds on the ovules and seeds of 

 our common dandelion Taraxacum officinale. Kawall (1867) men- 

 tions the same food plant. Bargagli (1883) states that he found 

 the larvae working on a species of Trifolium. He also found the 

 variety C. marginatus punctiger Gyll. feeding in the heads of Tar- 

 axacum vulgare. Perris (1876) and Bedel (1888) give Hypochceris 

 maculata, a plant belonging to the dandelion group, as a food plant. 

 Heretofore there has been no records of the feeding habits of the 

 adults. An observer at Syracuse, N. Y., reported that the adults 

 were found on lettuce and were causing serious injury. The writer 

 has seen the adults feeding on the leaves and stems of the dandelion 

 making large scars on the stems and eating out irregular patches on 

 the under surface of the leaves (Plate III, fig. 4). They have not 

 been observed feeding on lettuce though close search has been made 

 about Ithaca. 



It is interesting to note that most of the North American species 



